“Tantum ergo Sacramentum
Veneremur cernui.”
She returned to her home filled with a new life, and for the first time her soul felt its thralls. She was very quiet that night, and even her father remarked the change. Poor child! she had needed all that had been denied to her, and the starved spirit was just tasting of the food immortal. Is it not often thus in life, that a charm, a mere instinct, leads us to the path for which we have been vainly striving? Give me thine heart! was the cry of the Holy Mother to the footsore and weary, to all who sought consolation from that loving breast; and the listening angels caught the echo of that cry, and bore it up to the great Pontiff, who sends the Comforter to spread the white-winged dove on the troubled soul that calls for peace!
The spring came, after the long, cold winter, and Kenneth Arnaud asked the old man for his gentle daughter. But Mr. Stanfield had always regarded Madelaine as a mere child, and seemed shocked and angry at the request. He had forgotten that eighteen years had passed since his soft-eyed wife had whispered, “I leave her to God”—and now a Catholic had asked his child in marriage! He did not answer the young man for several weeks, not till the sweet eyes of his daughter had been dimmed with many tears, and her childish heart had felt, ay, painfully felt, the first great sorrow of her life.
“It seems strange that my faith should prove an objection, Mr. Stanfield, for not very many years have passed since you gave your own example.”
The old man looked him steadily in the eyes, and replied:
“And the great unhappiness of that union was the education of the children that were to come. What say you of this?”
“That, your daughter shall determine.”
“You can speak this with safety, Mr. Arnaud, for my daughter has proved a quick pupil.”
“I can scarcely comprehend you, Mr. Stanfield, and, as a gentleman, will not understand the accusation implied.”
“I do not accuse you of influencing my daughter, but her bias in favor of the Romish Church is a subject that cannot afford me happiness.”